Tag: interview

Fashion, unfiltered: how 2017 became the year of Versace

Perhaps the biggest challenge is dealing with the fictionalised interpretation of Donatella, which has taken on a life of its own: this version appears as a recurring character on Saturday Night Live, played by Maya Rudolph; it is also embodied by Gina Gershon in the outrageous TV movie House of Versace, in which “Donatella” stashes cocaine in a mascara tube. In January, Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace will be shown on the BBC. The trailer is violent and flashy and seems to suggest that Gianni knew his murderer – the serial killer Andrew Cunanan – which has never been confirmed. Penélope Cruz, who has often worn Versace, plays Donatella; she has said that she spoke “a little bit” with the designer while preparing. “I needed that conversation,” she said. “I really hope that, when she sees the show, she’s going to be happy.” When I ask Donatella about it today, though, she doesn’t seem happy. “I don’t discuss fiction,” she says. So it is a fiction to you? “It is fiction,” she says, her eyes widening for emphasis.

Fashion, unfiltered: how 2017 became the year of Versace

Jon Jon Briones to join ‘Versace’ story

Helmed by award-winning writer-director-producer Ryan Murphy, the “Versace” story will feature Jon Jon as Modesto Cunanan, the father of serial killer Andrew Cunanan, who is portrayed by Darren.

Other Fil-Ams joining the stellar cast which includes Edgar Ramirez (Gianni Versace), Ricky Martin (Antonio D’Amico), and Penelope Cruz (Donatella Versace), include Jon Jon’s daughter Isa Briones (who will portray Elena Cunanan, the sister of Andrew) and Carlin James (who will play Christopher Cunanan, the brother of Andrew).

The “Versace” story is the second season of the FX true crime anthology television series American Crime Story (ACS) and it will premiere on Jan. 17, 2018. It will consist of a total of 10 episodes. It will explore the murder of designer Gianni Versace by serial killer Andrew Cunanan, based on Maureen Orth’s book “Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, And The Largest Failed Manhunt In U.S. History.”

Jon Jon, who was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for playing The Engineer role and won the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best Actor in a Musical, revealed to us how he got the part.

“I like this story, although it might be a little long,” he said. “Darren Criss and the writer, Tom Rob Smith, both talked about me to each other. They both saw me in ‘Miss Saigon’ London and both agreed that I might be right for the part. Apparently, Tom mentioned it first during a dinner towards the beginning of shooting and he brought my name up. Darren was like ‘OMG yes, we have to push for that!’ I then met Darren at the Tony Awards and he gave me a heads up on the project. He told me to tell my agent to keep an eye out for this role. At the same time, he was constantly bringing my name up on set to the producers. I then got an email from my agent that ACS wanted me to audition for the role of Modesto Cunanan. The audition was in LA and I am still in New York City doing ‘Miss Saigon’ so I taped myself instead. I submitted the audition and the rest is history.”

Unfortunately, he revealed, they don’t need to shoot in the Philippines. “We didn’t shoot in the Philippines but they recreated the house of Modesto Cunanan in Baliuag, Bulacan in a sound studio at the FOX lot,” he disclosed.

He said he is done filming all his scenes. “I’m in the last two episodes. I filmed for a total of two weeks for the two episodes I’m in. I had to fly back and forth between LA and New York a few times so I can do some of the shows on Broadway and then return to continue filming.”

He added that he did a lot of research on Modesto Cunanan. “I researched as much as I could,” he told us. “There was not much information out there on Modesto Cunanan. But my director for episode 8, Matt Bomer, gave me his book entitled ‘Vulgar Favors’ by Maureen Orth which helped me a lot. The whole show is based on that book by Miss Orth. Also, one of the executive producers-directors of the show, Dan Minahan gave me a copy of all the previous episode’s scripts to help me get a feel for the show. And it helped a lot.”

Jon Jon pointed out, “I’ve done a lot of TV roles before but this is definitely the biggest one. The writing is just so good!”

Jon Jon Briones to join ‘Versace’ story

Carlotta Montanari is on National FX Network with American Crime Story

Welcome to indieactivity, Carlotta Montanari, you will be on national FX NETWORK with American Crime Story in January 2018 in the mini-series along with Penelope Cruz and Edgar Ramirez, directed by Matt Bomer and distributed by 20th Century FOX.

indieactivity: What would you like, or you can, share about this project?
Carlotta: This chapter of American Crime Story tells the story of the assassination of the great Gianni Versace. Being Italian myself, I felt very close to this project since I read the part. My character is a very elegant beautiful woman, a high class Italian woman of the 70’s. She knows what she wants, and is a tough but an important figure in Versace’s life and career turning point. The whole story is brilliantly written and so are the dialogues, and I really hope the audience will love it.

On the set there was an incredible energy and chemistry in the relationship of the whole team. I felt very happy to be part of such a family all along. Being directed by such inspiring actor like Matt Bomer gave me so much freedom in the creative process right away because his immense sensitivity toward the actors and the art of acting itself.

There was a great chemistry and bonding between all of us during the creative process. All of us were there doing our job in the best way possible. I felt lucky to be working with Matt Bomer and with such great a versatile actor like Edgar Ramirez. Now I look forward to see the show.

indieactiivty: Tell us one creative choice you made on set during production?
Carlotta: My creative choice for this character was mostly working on the period, who I was and what I needed. It’s true that costume and makeup were incredible, seriously one of the best I have ever worked with. However, the way we moved, talked and even thought are all elements that make the time. Since I woke up, on my way to the set I was all about her, in 1976, from the music I was listening, the way I was looking at things, all in that beautiful italian romantic way…

indieactiivty: What did you take away from this experience?
Carlotta: One word, Faith. It was a surprising week for me, I was going through an emotional pain and I was sure that this audition didn’t go well at all. One of those days when you wish to rewind everything and redo everything in a better way. Well, I was on set shooting the national Honda commercial when unexpectedly I got the call from my agent for this role on Versace’s story. I was filled of happiness and joy, not just for the booking, but because once again life has surprised me and reminded me to believe in me, and not to be hard on myself.

indieactivity: What did you like most about working on this production?
Carlotta: When a set is so filled of creativity and positive energy I always leave a part of me there. I will always have inside of me this experience, the people I met and felt them like a family, and this character that I felt so close to me. This was one of those times when you don’t want to go back to the world out there, and you don’t want to let your character go!

Carlotta Montanari is on National FX Network with American Crime Story

Ricky Martin | THINK Magazine

Now, after seven years as a proud gay man, Martin is starring in his first gay role as Antonio D’Amico, fashion designer Gianni Versace’s former lover, in FX’s American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, premiering in 2018. To him, this means a lot to be able to portray someone who he can identify with in terms of sexuality, and the quiet struggle that comes with it. “We’re going to go mainstream with a story that talks about homophobia, that talks about hate, that talks about indifference,” he explained. “It’s something that I really wanted to be loud about.”

To Martin, the relatability factor is all too real, as he said that he would often get emotional on set while filming. “[Filming] took me back to eight years ago when I was in the closet and it just moved me,” he admitted. Despite the emotional tides he deals with on set, he’s proud of the show and how it will give an insider’s look into Gianni Versace’s life. The murder of Versace on his own front steps rocked the whole world when it occurred back in 1997. D’Amico was the first to run to his lover’s side when he found him shot dead on the steps to his Miami mansion. They had been dating for 15 years before his partner’s life was taken. The show will explore the relationship between D’Amico and Versace, Versace’s personal life, and the events leading up to his murder.

Ricky Martin | THINK Magazine

Martin is starring in the upcoming, Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.  “We’re going to shed light on a story that no one talked about, no one’s been talking about for a long time. To be able to work with Ryan Murphy, it’s been amazing because he keeps challenging you as an actor and I think people are going to be really happy with the acting. The story is amazing and it’s a thrill to work with Penelope (Cruz) and Edgar Ramirez. I’m flying,” Martin eagerly told us.

Ricky Martin interview for Miami’s Community Newspapers at the Ocean Drive Magazine Gala